Pro slackliner rescues skier from chairlift

A pro slackliner has saved a skier’s life in the US by hauling himself along a chairlift cable, catching a knife, and cutting down the unconscious man, who was hanging by his neck.

Mickey Wilson told the Denver Post that the sight of the man dangling from the chair at Araphoe Basin, Colorado, was "one of the most scary things" he'd ever seen.

"Just seeing a person get the life sucked out of them," the competitive slackliner and part-time ski instructor said. "I kind of stopped thinking and just started acting."

(Mickey Wilson via Denver Post) ()

Video of the incident shows Mr Wilson frantically cutting through the unconscious man's backpack, sending him dropping several metres into the snow – but it doesn't show what happened in the minutes prior.

The man's backpack became stuck in the chair when he tried to get off the lift, which continued to operate, sending him around the bullwheel at the top of the mountain where he was spotted by the operator, who shut down the lift.

"He was not only caught, he was literally being hung by his neck by his backpack. He was hanging three feet, four feet below the chair. His feet were maybe only about 10 feet off the snow," Mr Wilson said.

(Mickey Wilson via Denver Post) ()

"That’s when I realised — it all kind of snapped together — that I can climb this tower and get to him."

The 28-year-old proceeded to scale the lift pylon before going hand over hand across the cable and reaching the stricken party, which took four or five minutes. He then took receipt of a knife "perfectly tossed" up from someone below – which is where the video begins.

Wilson told the Post he spoke to man, who is in a neck brace but otherwise seems to be in good health. His rescuer says he doesn't blame the resort for what happened.

Mickey Wilson. (Facebook) ()

A spokeswoman for Araphoe Basin said the resort will investigate the incident, but asserted that the lift "did not malfunction".

"We're extending out best wishes to the guest for a quick recovery," she said.